"How come I had to go out and break my shoulder to receive this kind of recognition?" asked Smith, using a tone that was half-kidding, except he wasn't, because that's just Emmitt.

Maybe it was all those voices in his formative football years that constantly suggested he was "too small ... too slow." Smith heard it in high school, heard it in college, and certainly heard it on NFL draft day in 1990.

But even today, when he has proved himself not only worthy, but also elite, and also one-of-a-kind, Emmitt still seems constantly driven by those who once doubted him. Or better yet, he appears to be convinced they still do.

If this is paranoia, it's the positive kind.

For the record, however, Smith's guts-and-glory performance against the New York Giants eight days ago had no impact on him being the first Cowboys' player to be voted MVP of the NFL. Speaking of hard to believe - all those great teams and great individual performances over the last three decades, and this is the very first Dallas MVP.

Anyway, before Emmitt suffered the broken wing in New York, the Associated Press already had in hand the 81 ballots from a national panel of sports writers and broadcasters. In fact, the votes had been counted even before Smith became the NFL rushing leader in the 15th game of the season.

Emmitt may find this difficult to comprehend, and certainly it appears to be in conflict with his personal motivational methods, but he's the MVP for one reason. He deserved it. A majority of AP panelists recognized that pertinent fact.

MVP doesn't necessarily translate into best player in the league, or even best player on one team. MVP means your team couldn't have accomplished what it did without you. In Emmitt's case, or the Cowboys', can there be even the slightest doubt for 1993?

"No, I didn't have any MVP bonus clause in my contract," said Smith, smiling again. "I think some people will want to know that, the same people who were saying the only reason I continued to play in New York, even after being hurt is I had a bonus clause for the rushing title. Again, it wasn't money. I got no bonus for the rushing title, either."

Actually, the only bonus for Smith this season has centered on football turmoil and headaches. In that category, he reached a career high, starting with the hostility involved in his training camp contractual holdout. The bitter dispute with owner Jerry Jones spilled over into the first two regular-season games, and it appeared only the Cowboys' 0-2 record (no Emmitt, no wins) caused a settlement.

But Smith overcame that, plus the first major injuries of his career, not only to win a third consecutive rushing title, but, most important, become an MVP ingredient in the Cowboys achieving the NFC's best record and top seed in the playoffs.

Actually, take away the first Phoenix game (Smith's debut for 1993, which meant a limited role), the Atlanta game (only one carry before being injured in the first half) and the Miami game (it came three days after the Atlanta injury on an ice rink for a field) and Emmitt packed an MVP campaign into only 11 games.

The best was last, of course, but the shoulder injury he gallantly overcame against the Giants remains a playoff worry. Until this season, however, no one knew if an injury-free Emmitt could play hurt. Now everyone knows, which also eases concerns about his availability for the playoffs.

"I think the best way to measure a great player," Jimmy Johnson was saying Monday, "is how he performs under the toughest of conditions. Well, with Emmitt, no matter what it is - a bad field due to the weather, a quality defense he's facing, a painful injury he's having to overcome, or whatever - you see the greatness. He's not fancy and there's no frills, but the results say it all."

Jones also spoke of his appreciation on Monday, particularly over no backlash from Smith following the heated negotiations.

"Once Emmitt returned to the team, he was totally positive, and that started in the first game against Phoenix. He hasn't once looked back. He wanted to prove he could still win another rushing title and that the team could still be the first seed for the playoffs. Emmitt is to be commended for that attitude."

Let the commending start with the MVP award. And no, Mr. Smith, there are no strings attached.

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